At a Glance
- A DoorDash driver was removed after faking a delivery with an AI-generated photo.
- The customer, Byrne Hobart, was refunded and credited after the fraud was uncovered.
- DoorDash confirmed the account was permanently deleted and the order was actually delivered.
- Why it matters: It shows how delivery platforms are fighting fraud and protecting customers.
Byrne Hobart, a DoorDash customer in Austin, Texas, exposed a delivery fraud when a driver marked an order as delivered and sent an AI-generated image of the front door. The incident led DoorDash to permanently remove the driver’s account, refund the customer, and confirm the food was actually delivered. The case highlights the company’s efforts to guard against deceptive practices.
The Fraudulent Delivery
Hobart posted on X on Dec. 26 that the driver accepted the drive, immediately marked it as delivered, and submitted an AI-generated image of a DoorDash order at his front door. He compared the photo with his actual door and noted the driver was never physically present. The post also suggested the Dasher may have been a scammer who hacked a legitimate driver’s account to collect fake deliveries.
- Immediate delivery marking
- AI image submission
- Potential account hacking
Byrne Hobart wrote:
> “Amazing. DoorDash driver accepted the drive, immediately marked it as delivered, and submitted an AI-generated image of a DoorDash order […] at our front door,”
Byrne Hobart added:
> “I didn’t think the DoorDash driver (or “Dasher,” as DoorDash calls them) was ever physically present at my home, but instead used a number of tactics to make it appear to Hobart, and to the powers that be at DoorDash, that it was a legitimate delivery.”
DoorDash Response
DoorDash confirmed via email that the Dasher’s account was permanently removed and the customer was made whole. The company emphasized its zero tolerance for fraud and its use of technology and human review to detect and prevent bad actors. The spokesperson highlighted ongoing improvements to its systems as new tactics emerge.
DoorDash spokesperson stated:
> “After quickly investigating this incident, our team permanently removed the Dasher’s account and ensured the customer was made whole. We have zero tolerance for fraud and use a combination of technology and human review to detect and prevent bad actors from abusing our platform. Our teams are constantly working on improving those systems as new tactics emerge.”
Customer Outcome
Hobart received a refund and a credit for his order, which was a poke bowl that was actually delivered to his home. The incident was resolved with the customer made whole. The case illustrates how DoorDash handles fraudulent claims.
- Refund issued
- Credit given
- Order delivered
Key Takeaways
- DoorDash permanently removed the fraudulent driver.
- Customer was refunded and credited.
- The order was ultimately delivered as intended.
The incident underscores DoorDash’s ongoing effort to safeguard customers against fraudulent activity while ensuring legitimate orders are fulfilled.
